M1097A2 won't start - acting like it is in gear.

[OrangeElvis]

I have been driving it pretty regularly with zero issues or symptoms. Last day to drive was Saturday and I drove it off and on all day. Today (Monday) went to start it and got nothing. "Wait" light lights up for 8 seconds on cold start, voltage needle "bounces", but get zipp from starter - no click, nothing. Batteries are new and fully charged. Diagnostics show smart box is supposedly good.

Checked cannon plugs coming off transmission underneath shifter, but haven't popped the shifter plate off yet.

I have neighborhood kids who love playing in it and I wouldn't put it past them to have been in there while I was away from home and maybe moved the shifter around or dropped something down in there, but I have cycled the shifter from P to N to D, back to P and noticed nothing unusual... Even tried starting in N with no effect.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!

 

[Thunderbirds]

I have been driving it pretty regularly with zero issues or symptoms. Last day to drive was Saturday and I drove it off and on all day. Today (Monday) went to start it and got nothing. "Wait" light lights up for 8 seconds on cold start, voltage needle "bounces", but get zipp from starter - no click, nothing. Batteries are new and fully charged. Diagnostics show smart box is supposedly good.

Checked cannon plugs coming off transmission underneath shifter, but haven't popped the shifter plate off yet.

I have neighborhood kids who love playing in it and I wouldn't put it past them to have been in there while I was away from home and maybe moved the shifter around or dropped something down in there, but I have cycled the shifter from P to N to D, back to P and noticed nothing unusual... Even tried starting in N with no effect.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!

Possibly transfer case shift knob not aligned in gear/inbetween gears? Not sure if that would make a difference....

 

[OrangeElvis]

Possibly transfer case shift knob not aligned in gear/inbetween gears? Not sure if that would make a difference....

That was my initial thought as well. I have shifted through both shifters - to N and back, but nothing changed.

 

[Thunderbirds]

That was my initial thought as well. I have shifted through both shifters - to N and back, but nothing changed.

And I am assuming they are still connected below and actually change the gear below? As in you still have the same resistance when shifting. Other that that, I am stumped...

 

[OrangeElvis]

And I am assuming they are still connected below and actually change the gear below? As in you still have the same resistance when shifting. Other that that, I am stumped...

Yes sir. Still can hear it engage and everything...

 

[NDT]

Key ignition switch mod?

 

[OrangeElvis]

Key ignition switch mod?

Yes sir - but separate from start paddle. It just turns power on and off. Original start paddle controller - but that could be the issue, I suppose. Just strange that I has worked perfectly up until now. I am also investigating the neutral safety switch.

 

[Thunderbirds]

Check the wires under the dashboard. Maybe the kids pulled one or more apart?

 

[OrangeElvis]

Check the wires under the dashboard. Maybe the kids pulled one or more apart?

That wasn't it. Gauges all activate when I turn it to "run"... but turns out my neutral safety switch is going out. When I tried to start it shifting back from neutral to park, I really jammed it home - and it started.

 

[OrangeElvis]

Thank you guys for your help. Neutral safety switch it looks like.

***SOLVED***